Daniel Dae Kim cast in Hellboy after Ed Skrein resigned

Daniel Dae Kim is now set to play Major Ben Daimio in the Hellboy: Rise Of The Blood Queen.

The Korean-American actor’s casting comes two weeks after Brit Ed Skrein stepped down from the leading role in the reboot following outcry that the character was being ‘whitewashed.’

In Mike Mignola’s comic version of the movie, Daimio’s Asian-American heritage is a central point to the character’s backstory.

Major role! Daniel Dae Kim (above in May) is now set to play Major Ben Daimio in Hellboy: Rise Of The Blood Queen after the original casting of British actor sparked outcry over the Asian-American character being ‘whitewashed’

Kim, 49, has been acting since the 90s with credits on hits like 24, Angel, ER and most recently as Detective Chin Ho Kelly on CBS’s Hawaii Five-0 reboot.

In late June, the Hawaii-born talent stepped down from his role in Hawaii Five-0 after raising concerns that he and fellow Asian American/Pacific Islander actors were being paid less than their white counterparts.

In August English actor Ed Skrein stepped down from the role of Major Daimai just one week after his original casting announcement.

In August Skrein (above in March) stepped down from his lead in Hellboy, explaining ‘I must do what I feel is right’ in a statement on his Twitter

The Game Of Thrones actor released a statement explaining the reasons for his resignation on Twitter.

‘Last week it was announced that I would be playing Major Ben Daimio in the upcoming HELLBOY reboot,’ the British actor wrote in a lengthy Twitter post.

‘I accepted the role unaware that the character in the original comics was of mixed Asian heritage. There has been intense conversation and understandable upset since that announcement, and I must do what I feel is right.’

The character’s grandmother was a Japanese Imperial assassin in World War II, so the casting of a Japanese actor seems imperative.

Stepping down: The British actor, 34, posted a mesage on his Twitter account about why he was stepping down from the role as Major Ben Daimio

‘It is clear that representing this character in a culturally accurate way holds significance for people, and that to neglect this responsibility would continue a worrying tendency to obscure ethnic minority stories and voices in the Arts,’ the Deadpool actor wrote.

‘I feel it is important to honour and respect that. Therefore I have decided to step down so the role can be cast appropriately.

‘Representation of ethnic diversity is important, especially to me as I have a mixed heritage family. It is our responsibility to make moral decisions in difficult times and to give voice to inclusivity.’

Twitter users erupted in cheers for the actor’s decision to step down from the role.

Support: Actor Patton Oswalt pleaded to Twitter users to ‘give this guy tons of work’ after Skrein’s decision to step down from the role of Major Ben Daimio

‘This is how whitewashing stops’: Twitter users voiced their support and respect for Ed Skrein

Just say no: Fans praised Skrein’s decision for stepping down from the Japanese-American role

Stand up comedian Patton Oswalt voiced his respect for Skrein stepping down from the role.

‘Good on you. @edskrein. Someone give this guy tons of work,’ the actor wrote on Monday morning.

Another user praised Ed’s decision to leave the leading role.

‘I have a huge amount of respect for Ed Skrein for stepping away from the part. This is how whitewashing stops. Action >>> words.’ Twitter user @mintsanity wrote.

Japanese history: Comic book character Diamio’s grandmother was a Japanese Imperial assassin in World War II, so the casting of a Japanese actor seems imperative

Last week, many people objected to the role not going to an Asian-American actor and called it another example of Hollywood ‘whitewashing’ Asian characters.

Another Twitter user was tongue-in-cheek: ‘Introducing the #Hellboy reboot’s Ben Daimio, whose grandmother was a Japanese spy named the Crimson Lotus. Wait, that can’t be right…’

Another flop? Another chimed in: ‘Hollywood, when will you finally accept the fact that other tan being a bad idea, #whitewashing does not MAKE YOU MONEY’

Another chimed in: ‘Hollywood, when will you finally accept the fact that other tan being a bad idea, #whitewashing does not MAKE YOU MONEY.’

Ed also received support for his decision from fellow actor and close friend Nicholas Hoult, who praised the choice as an ‘important’ message to the industry.

Speaking to Extra after the decision was made, the British actor, 27, said: ‘I agree completely with what Ed did, I think it’s very honorable. And I’m proud of him for making that decision…. It’s not an easy decision to make, because, you know, as actor we’re trying to get work.

‘It’s very honourable’: Ed also received support for his decision from fellow actor and close friend Nicholas Hoult, who praised the choice as an ‘important’ message to the industry

‘But for him to get that role and realize it has been miscast probably on many levels, even though he would have given a great performance, I think it’s important to do that.’

Hellboy: Rise of the Blood Queen set to be the third film in the franchise, which was originally directed by Guillermo del Toro.

Lionsgate, the distribution company tied to the film, declined to comment on the casting at the time, nor did a representative for Skrein.

This isn’t the first time Hollywood has been accused to whitewashing Asian characters.

‘Decimates Asian American characters’: Another user took a more sociological approach, highlighting the impact it has on Asian representation

Not impressed: Asian actor Simu Liu called out the industry for not even auditioning Asian-American actors

Emma Stone’s casting as a half-Hawaiian, half-Chinese Air Force pilot in Cameron Crowe’s Aloha created controversy at the time and the film went on to bomb at the box office.

Scarlett Johansson’s part as the cyborg protagonist in the Japanese anime remake of Ghost in the Shell caused similar outcry.

This week’s Netflix release, the Japanese manga adaptation Death Note also drew criticism for transferring a Japanese story to Seattle without any Asian actors.

Though Masamune Shirow, director of the original Ghost in the Shell, defended Johansson’s casting, many lambasted the choice.

Not new: Emma Stone’s casting as a half-Hawaiian, half-Chinese Air Force pilot in Aloha and Scarlett Johansson’s part in the Japanese anime remake of Ghost in the Shell caused outcry

When the $110 million film flopped in April, Paramount Pictures said the casting conversation impacted reviews , and thus its disappointing box-office debut.

Studies have shown that diverse casts often lead to better box office. And yet the top 100 films of 2015, a USC study found, contained not one leading role for an Asian-American.

That has led to increasing frustration for many prominent Asian-American actors and produced some clever parodies.

A New York digital strategist named William Yu, inspired by the OscarsSoWhite backlash, created the website and hashtag StarringJohnCho.

In photo-shopped movie posters, he imagines Cho single-handedly filling the Asian-American leading-man void in everything from The Martian to Me Before You.

‘With every instance of whitewashing,’ Yu posted in response to the Skrein casting, ‘an (Asian-American) is subliminally told that they are not worth attention, not worth a place in this society.’

Coming soon! Hellboy: Rise of the Blood Queen set to be the third film in the franchise, which was originally directed by Guillermo del Toro